Card table



Dec. 5, 1933. L, TAYLOR 1,937,994

CARD TABLE Filed Jan. 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l A 7' TOE/YEV 1933- L. E. TAYLOR 1,937,994

CARD TABLE Filed Jan. 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to tables, and more specifically to card tables, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a card table of such improved construction and arrangement that supporting means are associated with said card table apart from the card playing surface thereof for the reception of such articles as cigarette and cigar holders, ash trays, match holders, glasses, etc., whereby the card playing surface of the table is kept free from many articles which heretofore cluttered said card playing surface and caused annoyance to the players.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved table.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the table illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 55 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved table generally, said table including the usual top B which provides the playing surface of the table, and the usual foldable supporting legs C. The particular table illustrated in the drawings is provided with a covering D of leather or other suitable material which is extended over the upper surface of the top B of the table to provide the playing surface thereof, and this covering D is held in place by suitable marginal strips E which have associated with them corner elements F for improving the appearance of the table. Also, the table A includes marginal frame elements G.

At a pair of diagonally opposed corners of the table A the table top B is cut away, as illustrated at the points indicated by the reference character 1, and corner pieces 2 are arranged at said cutaway portions. The corner pieces 2 comprise each a portion 2a which parallels and contacts with the top faces of portions of the associated marginal frame elements G and the associated marginal strips E, as shown in Fig. 2. Also each corner piece includes downwardly extended portions 2b which embrace the corner portions of the marginal strips E. When viewed in plan, each corner piece 2 is approximately triangular in shape and is provided at its inner edge with a curved portion which provides an upstanding hook-shaped element 4, as shown in Fig. 2. The hook-shaped element 4 is open as indicated at 5 in Fig. 2, at the side thereof toward the adjacent corner of the table.

Adapted for association with each corner piece 1 is a tray 6, which is preferably shaped as shown in Fig. 1; that is to say, each tray is substantially rectangular in shape when viewed in plan, except for an angular portion 6'. Each tray includes an upstanding marginal flange 7, the portion of said marginal flange at the angular portion 6' of the tray being designated by thereference character 7'.

When it is desired to associate the trays 6 with the table, each tray is arranged in the approximate position T illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. With the tray so positioned the portion 7 of the marginal upstanding flange 7 of said tray is passed into the hook-shaped portion 4 of the associated corner piece 2 through the opening 5 thereof, said flange portion 7 and the hookshaped portion 4 of the corner piece being disposed in parallelism at this time. The outer end of the tray is then lowered until a portion of the lower face of the tray contacts with the top face of the portion 2a of the corner piece, and because at this time the top edge of the flange portion '7 contacts with the upper portion of the hook-shaped portion 4 of the corner piece the tray is very rigidly supported in a horizontal position.

With the trays positioned as described, such articles as cigarette and cigar holders, ash trays,- match holders, etc., may be placed on said trays, whereby said articles will be removed from their customary place on the playing surface of the table. When it is desired to remove the trays from the table it is necessary merely to elevate the outer ends of the trays and unhook the marginal flange portions 7 thereof from the hook-shaped portions of the associated corner pieces.

It frequently happens that drinks are served to card players, and my invention includes elements 8 which are adapted to be quickly and conveniently attached to the trays 6 and which serve as holders for glasses. Each of the elements 8 includes an outwardly extended portion 8a which is provided with an opening 9, in which a tapered glass 10 may be disposed, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, and an inwardly extended tail portion 8b. Each element 8 includes also upstanding hook-shaped elements 11 which preferably are integral with the element and are located intermediate the opposite ends thereof. When the elements 8 are applied to the trays, the hookshaped elements 11 are hooked over portions of the marginal flange '7 of said trays and said elements are moved to horizontal positions, where the tail portions 8b contact with the bottom faces of the trays, and the portion 8a extend outwardly from said trays, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The tapered glasses 10 may then be introduced into the openings 9, whereby said glasses will be supported by the elements 8 in a manner to permit ready removal of said glasses.

In order to provide means for holding the trays 6 and the elements 8 when they are not in use, I secure a strip 12 to the underside of the table top 3. This strip has fixed thereto a pair of elements 13 which are so shaped as to provide pockets into which the angular portions 6 of the trays 6 may be introduced, as shown in Fig. 3, when said trays are arranged parallel and in contact with the lower face of the table top. I also secure a strip 14 to the lower face of the table top and pivotally attach tray-engaging members 15 to said strip, said tray-engaging members having torsional coil springs 16 associated therewith which tend to move the outer end portions of the tray-engaging members toward the lower face of the table top.

The tray-engaging members preferably are formed of relatively heavy wire and are shaped and arranged so as to embrace the trays, as shown in Fig. 5, said members also being provided with extended portions which facilitate operation of said members.

When it is desired to dispose of the trays and elements 8 when same are not in use, the angular portions 6' of the trays are introduced into the pockets provided by the elements 13 and the trayengaging members 15, which were moved outwardly to permit introduction of the trays in place, are permitted to engage the trays as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The trays will then be securely held in place so that the table may be moved about or stored away without danger of the trays becoming displaced from their positions beneath the table top.

I claim:

1. A card table comprising a table top, supporting legs for said table top, a triangular shaped element associated with said table top and having upstanding hook-shaped tray-engaging means associated therewith, and a tray engaged beneath said tray-engaging means, said tray being extended beyond the marginal edge of said table top and being maintained in a horizontal position by contacting with a triangular shaped portion of said element.

2. A card table comprising a table top, supporting legs for said table top, a triangular shaped.

element associated with said table top and having upstanding hook-shaped tray-engaging means associated therewith, and a tray having marginal edge of said table top and being maintained in a horizontal position by contacting with a triangular shaped portion of said element.

4. A card table comprising a table top, supporting legs for said table top, an element associated with said table top and having trayengaging means associated therewith, a tray engaged by. said tray-engaging means, said tray being extended beyond the marginal edge of said table top and being maintained in a horizontal position by contacting with a portion of said element, and a support for a drinking glass removably attached to said tray.

5. A card table comprising a table top, supporting legs for said table top, an element associated with said table top and having upstanding hookshaped tray-engaging means associated therewith, a tray having a marginal flange engaged by said tray-engaging means, said tray being extended beyond the marginal edge of said table top and being maintained in a horizontal position by contacting with a portion of said element, and a support for a drinking glass removably attached to said tray, said drinking glass support including a hook-shaped element which engages the marginal flange of said tray.

6. A card table comprising a table top, supporting legs for said table top, an element associated with said table top and having upstanding hookshaped tray-engaging means associated therewith, a tray having a marginal flange engaged by said tray-engaging means, said tray being extended beyond the marginal edge of said table top and being maintained in a horizontal position by contacting with a portion of said element, and a support for a drinking glass removably attached to said tray, said drinking glass support including a hook-shaped element which-engages the marginal flange of said tray, an outwardly extended glass-supporting portion, and an inwardly extended tail portion which contacts with the bottom face of the tray.

LOUIS E. TAYLOR.

its 

